Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

James Gale is a Belgian artist and musician. With a direct and intuitive feel that underlines the honesty of his composition, his music is incredibly personal. To blur the lines between different concepts while simultaneously trying to add more and create some exceptional sonic dynamics, his tracks draw from a wide range of inspirations, including pop and rock. James, who suffers from autism, depression, and anxiety,...